Imagine, Explore, Create

Monday, 18 January 2016

On
January 8th the students brought home their first report card of the
2015-16 school year. For those families who are new to the CBE or who have younger
students moving from kindergarten into the grades, the report card might look a
little different. There are many resources on the CBE website to assist parents
in understanding their child’s report card.

We
thought we would use this week’s blog post to address some of the common parent
queries.

A
report card is divided into subject areas and within those areas into specific REPORT CARD OUTCOMES that describe what
your child is expected to know and be able to do (by the end of the school
year) according to the Alberta Education Programs of Study. Multiple
assessments, along with the teacher’s professional judgment are considered when
evaluating student achievement against the CBE report card outcomes.

Rather
than receiving one overall grade for a subject, students receive INDICATORS showing the extent to
which the child has demonstrated achievement of the report card outcomes. In
the fall of 2014 the report card indicators changed from a 5 point scale to a 4
point scale; 1 (Not Meeting) to 4 (Excellent). There is no direct translation
from the 5-point indicator scale used in previous years to the 4-point
indicator scale that we use now. In other words the new ‘2’ is not the old ‘3.’ A ‘2’ in the 4-point indicator scale means that the student has achieved
grade level expectations for that report card outcome and that the depth
and breadth of their understanding is at a basic level.

Kindergarten
is often a child’s first experience with formal schooling. Although many of the
report card outcomes are the same as in the higher grades, the outcomes
specific to Kindergarten reflect this first exposure to academic life for our
young learners. For example, the literacy outcome in Kindergarten, “Uses early
literacy strategies to explore, construct and express ideas,” honors the
child’s early encounters with text and recognizing the many experiences that
‘grow’ a reader.

The
move from grade to grade is always a big one and the leap from Kindergarten to
grade one is particularly so! It is important to remember that each grade has a
new set of learning outcomes that in many cases build on the year before while
also presenting your child with brand new and exciting concepts through which
they can explore their world.

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

CALLING ALL DDS STUDENTS...Miss. Sarah (our ACAD Studio Artist) needs our help! Please see her message below for more information on some exciting projects happening in her studio space in our Learning Commons!

HELLO DOUGLASDALE STUDENTS,

You
have all been so thoughtful in coming up with ideas on what I should create
next and I have to say I am very inspired! I did a lot of brainstorming over
the holidays and I think I have come up with a new painting idea, but I need
your help before I get started!

If
you want to take part in my project coming up, there a few things you can do to
get involved!

1)THINK TANK– Jan. 6th – 22nd, 2016

Stop by
my studio in the Learning Commons and add your favorite toy ideas to the boxes at
the Think Tank!

2)MAKER CHALLENGE– Jan. 6th – 22nd,
2016

Participate in the
Maker Challenge (beside my studio) and submit your blueprint to help make the
wooden easels more stable! I’ll be doing a draw from the submissions in a few
weeks and the winner will get a special prize!

And
last but not least…

3)TOY DRIVE – Jan. 6th – 29th, 2016

I am looking to collect
some old toys! If you have ONE old toy or game that you aren’t using
anymore and you would like to donate it to the project (meaning you
won’t get it back!), please drop it off in my studio! I’ve got a bunch of
exciting ideas but before I get started I need to get my hands on some old toys,
and hopefully you can help me out!

I
can’t wait to see all of your submissions and what you all bring in! I’m in the
studio every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30-11:45am and all day on
Thursdays until the end of the school year, so if you have any questions feel
free to stop by!